Once Upon a Time-The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Disneyland has changed quite a bit since it opened in 1955. Lately, it seems to change so fast that when you blink attractions are already gone! As a result, there are a lot of attractions that we can no longer experience. In addition to some that you wish would come back! Today I would like to talk about Hollywood Tower Hotel that was in California Adventure.

Once Upon a Time – The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Disneyland

Hollywood Tower Hotel was a wonderfully themed attraction that paid close attention to details! It is a dark ride with an accelerated drop. The story of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction was even turned into a movie in 1997  that starred Steve Guttenberg and Kirsten Dunst. (Tower Of Terror)

Story

The Twilight Zone was a television series in the ’50s and ’60s. A very strange series.  It was a mix of superstition, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comedy, and Drama. Basically, each week was a different story. Crazy, strange storylines that left me puzzled half the time. But strangely enough, it draws you in! If you have never seen an episode, make sure to try it once!

For The Twilight Zone attractions, the hotel sits abandoned since 1939 when five people (a bellhop, an up and coming child star, her nanny, and a famous couple) got on the elevator and lightning struck the hotel. Making the five people disappear!

Theme

Disney’s California Adventure version of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror was styled after the  1930’s golden age of Hollywood and Southern California. Some of this type of style can still be found in Southern California today.

Line

As you entered the line, you would wind around overgrown plants, see aging signage directing you to the tennis courts and the pool. Once you entered the hotel, you would see vintage furniture and decorations that were left untouched. Which incidentally means lots of dust and cobwebs! Even the main desk remained as it was from 1939.

In addition to all the items to look at as you waited in line, you could also hear 1930’s jazz music playing.

Next, you would enter a room that looked like a library with a television. Outside the window, you could hear thunder and rain. Lightning strikes and the lights would go out and then the television would turn on. It played what looked like a scene from the television series The Twilight Zone. Here you would get a background story on what happened that fateful night in 1939.

Then you would exit into the boiler room to wait for the service elevator.

Afterward, you would get on your elevator and put on your safety belt.

Ride

As the doors are closing you hear a voice warning you that you entered an uncommon elevator as the elevator moves backward and you can see a bolt of lightning. Stars appear as well as a purple spiral that moves in a circular pattern. Another warning comes that you are going to take a strange journey to an unknown destination. Therefore reservations have been made.

As if the anticipation of the drop wasn’t already bad enough… At least for me it always was.

Next, the elevator rises and the doors open. A mirror can be seen with a wooden frame. Everyone can see their reflection in the mirror. The narrator says to wave goodbye. Lightning strikes. As a result, the lights go out, a wind blows through and the rider’s reflections are now distorted. Another lightning strikes. Now the mirror shows empty seats as the doors close…You have now entered the Twilight Zone…

The Ride Continues

The elevator rises a bit then stops. Doors open and you see a long hallway with another elevator in the back. Warning that what has happened before will now happen again as the five guests can be seen trying to get you to join them. Again the narration says that five people stepped into the elevator and into a nightmare and now it is opening again. This time for you!

Finally, you begin to rise all the way up to the top. The doors open and you see outside. The parks and California! The next narration here is that you will find out what the fifth dimension is like.

Afterward… you begin your fall back down. Then up. And down again. It would be different every time you rode it. Either falling or even five times! It would keep you guessing!

After the ride was finished your final warning could be heard. That next time you should know what vacancy you are filling or next time you may become a permanent resident of the Twilight Zone.

Photos

As you would exit this attraction, they had a wall with photos being displayed that were taken during your ride. They could be purchased if you liked it. Mine always looked horrible because I was so terrified! But we would always purchase it for the memories…

Store

After the photos, the exit continued into the gift shop. I loved this shop! A lot of the souvenirs here were themed for the Hollywood Tower Hotel in the 1930’s style. Keychains, towels, toothpick holders, (aka shot glasses), magnets, and T-shirts. Disney also had picture frames to hold your ride photo!

Fun Facts About Tower of Terror

• Tower of Terror opened May 5, 2004.
• Closed January 3, 2017.
• Drops you 130 feet.
• Goes a max speed of 39mph.
• The building is 183 feet tall. The tallest in the Disneyland Resort. (It is housing Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout now.)

In Conclusion

I hope that you enjoyed today’s post Once Upon a Time – The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Disneyland. Sometimes taking a look at the past gets you to relive some fun (and scary) memories of the past.

Questions or Comments

If there are any questions or comments on today’s post, please feel free to share them below!

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